296 MEMOIR OF 



to be imminent, and then some of the best 

 hounds would either have been killed on the 

 spot, or have had their hides seamed from 

 shoulder to stern. Russell jumped off his pony 

 (Fox by name, a wonderful little animal, which, 

 by-the-bye, immediately ran away and gave me 

 no end of trouble to catch him), rushed in upon 

 the deer, caught him by the horns and held 

 him till a third man came to his aid ; who, so far 

 as I can recollect, was poor old Tom Webber, 

 long since dead. Luckily for Russell, the deer 

 (a four-year old) was not a very savage one ; 

 so, while I held the horses, the two, after a 

 sharp tussle, managed to secure him. Several of 

 the field then made their appearance — a little 

 too late, however, to witness the last act of the 

 play, the crowning scene of the day's sport. 



" Russell and I started home soon after- 

 wards ; and, long as the distance was, reached 

 Baron's Down before nightfall. I need not tell 

 you that Russell has been out with the stag- 

 hounds, to the best of my belief, every day 

 during the past season (1877) ; that is to say, 

 when a stag was to be hunted ; for hinds he 

 doesn't care so much about. Let me add, that 

 he generally sees as much of the run as any one 

 out ; stays to the finish, and rides incredible 

 distances back to his home — no trifling feat for 

 a man in the vigour of youth ; but for one of 

 his age a truly wonderful performance." 



